Big Analog Synth Sound from a Virtual-Analog Synth

Say hello to your new stage synth! The Novation UltraNova analog-modeling synthesizer has what it takes to drive any performance, and its touch-sensitive controls make it really easy to shape your sound during live sets. When you power on the 37-key UltraNova, not only do you get one-touch access to a powerful effects processor, but also wavetable synthesis, over a dozen cool filters, a choice vocoder, and a useful plug-in editor and patch librarian for full visual editing. This single-part synth is powered by Novation's Supernova II synth engine, which gives the UltraNova its big-synth sound in a slim package.

A High-Performance Synth in the Studio and Out

Ideal for both gigging musicians and studio recordists, the compact UltraNova delivers phat sound to live sound stages and personal studio desks alike. Take it on the road and perform like a pro with its touch-sensitive controls and 37 full-sized keys with velocity and aftertouch. When you're back at home, you can edit and archive your patches with the synth's software editor. Open up the included plug-in editor within your favorite DAW, and get a visual playing field for editing all UltraNova parameters. What's more, a built-in 2-in/4-out audio interface allows you to stream audio to and from a Mac or PC, and the option to power the synth via USB bus or DC power means that you and the UltraNova are completely mobile.

This video from Novation gives a great overview of the UltraNova:
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You Know You Want to Touch Them

For every major part of the UltraNova, there's a dedicated button linked to eight encoders, which you can get your hands on and tweak as you like. The overall layout and hardware design of the UltraNova is a big plus, as its encoders, buttons, and key bed make the synth feel more analog than analog-modeled. Moreover, its touch-sense controls make live performances a snap -- simply touch the encoders to trigger effects, envelopes, filters, and so forth.

Save Those Patches

With 300 patches onboard, the UltraNova provides a wealth of preset sounds to jump-start your music. Work with those patches with the included patch librarian (Mac/Windows), which conveniently allows you to save and organize an unlimited number of patches in your host computer. Each factory patch has already been tagged, so you can easily search by category and genre from either the UltraNova hardware or the software patch librarian.

Vocoder = Instant Fun

In addition to a spread of 37 full-size keys, 14 kinds of filters, and a full set of controls, the UltraNova sports a 12-band vocoder and comes with a dynamic gooseneck microphone for getting your brass monkey sounds in there. Not just for vocals, the built-in vocoder can process instruments or anything else you can run into the rear panel's stereo line inputs.

Product Description

The Novation UltraNova is a 'Nova' series analogue-modelling synthesizer with a powerful effects processor. It is a single-part synth taking the legendary Supernova II synth engine as a starting point and packing it with technology. It now has great features including wavetable synthesis, even more powerful filters, a software editor and a revolutionary touch-sense performance mode.

The Novation 'Nova' family was born in 1998 with the Supernova, which was the first of a series of powerful synthesizers. These quickly became industry standard 'big-synths' which are still used by countless artists and sound designers.

The Novation UltraNova is an addition to the family bringing the range right up to date with a host of features and a more affordable price tag.

Features

- Nova-series synth engine based on Supernova II
- Touch-sense controls enable sound-shaping and performance
- Totally gig-able with 37 full sized keys, a vocoder, and loads of controls
- Software plug-in editor and Patch Librarian for full visual editing
- Built-in 2 in 4 out USB audio interface and it can be bus powered

Software Editor

UltraNova has a powerful software editor that enables visual editing of all parameters. It can be used within DAWs as a plug-in editor.

Patch Librarian

UltraNova also ships with a patch librarian that can be hosted on Mac or PC. This enables the user to save an unlimited number patches to the host computer and organize them into folders. Each of the 300 patches that ship with UltraNova have been tagged to make it easy to search by category and genre from the hardware synth or the software patch librarian.

Vocoder

UltraNova has a 12 band vocoder and ships with a dynamic gooseneck microphone. In addition to putting your voice through the vocoder (via the microphone) you can also process other sounds by putting instruments - or pretty much anything - into the Novation UltraNova's stereo line inputs on the back panel.

"This is a great sounding unique VA, packed with features, powerful synthesizer, great low end, and easy to use interface, a qual"

Sound:
Ultranova sounds fantastic. Of course that's subjective, but I like it. It has a great low end and effects with many options. I can add all kinds of panning to my sounds with UN. I can get beautiful pads, thick basses or anything else. I also own DSI Tetra and MicroKorg. Obviously DSI Tetra is phatter than UN, but UN holds its own and actually those two make a great combination. Tetra for the analog and UN for the digital. I think UN sounds better (less artficially bright and flashy) than MK. I like the sound of UN, it does have some character.
Feature:
It is not multi-timbral, but that's not a problem for me. That's what a DAW is for. I would like if the editor were stand-alone instead of a VST, but that's not any big deal.
Ease of Use:
It is very easy to create and tweak sounds and navigate through the features. it is obvious that the designers thought this out. Let's say you want to tweak the LFO. just press the LFO button and the screen is filled with the LFO paramaters. now turn..or just touch..a knob to tweak it. Very easy to program and I picked it up in a few hours. once you understand the basic menu structure you can click any button and do what you want. The manual is clear.
Quality:
plastic, but feels well built and reliable - always works flawlessly and does what I expect it to. knobs have a little movement to them but I think this is by design, it doesn't feel cheap. I would gig with it if I was a gigging musician. The key bed is high quality like they say. it feels good to play on it. The only thing I don't like is that the filter knob sort of flywheels. For example. let's say the 12 o clock position is the top of the cutoff range, turn the knob some and when you come back to 12 O clock, now it's 3/4 of the cutoff range. This is by design, but it would be a little better if the knob locked on a little better. Still not a big deal at all.
Value:
Given the chance to buy a more expensive VA, I would still buy this.
Manufacturer Support:
I asked them a question before I bought it. They could only be reached by email and took about 10 days to respond.
The Wow Factor:
It has the characteristic blue Supernova color showing it's Novation DNA. You know, Nord has the red boards, etc. Blue lighted pitch and mod wheel (you can dim or disable these lights) It looks complex but it's not, that's cool. it's more of a showpiece than Tetra or microkorg. Feels solid and well built.
Overall:
If I could only buy one synth, I'd buy this. If I could buy this and one other, I would get DSI Tetra, and I'd use them together. I also considered Roland Gaia and M-Audio Venom, but I chose this. here is why:
Gaia rocks for its sound and all its knobs and sliders. but Gaia didn't have the vocoder, the awesome looking VST plug-in, the librarian editor, Audio-In, or the extensive modulation and synthesis power of UN, and the keys felt cheap and plastic. I tried it at the store. I didn't want venom because my other M-Audio gear has always had issues. 1. Axiom 49 died before it was two years old. only one key would make a sound. nothing would fix it. I had taken good care of it. 2. Pro fire 610 works great, but sometimes shows a CRC error and requires PC restart to make it behave. M-Audio is new in the synth business, trying to jump on the train. Venom was also marketed for it's abrasive hard edge sound ability, which was not my interest.

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Overall:
Love it! Great synth and I don't play techno, just rock and classical. I bought the MicroKorg xl first and was dissapointed with it. Very Cheap, so I kept looking for a great synth. I went to a few stores and demo'd some units the Ultranova and the Gaia.
The Gaia felt cheap and the keys were horrible. The unit looked great but sounded average so I tried the Novation, it was a step up in sound quality and touch so I bought it from zZounds and was extremely happy with the sounds and feel of the unit. It is plastic but seems strong unlike the Korg and Roland. The sounds are out of this world!! Pro level!!!

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